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To hear stories from the people that worked alongside Mid-Century American design giants is to witness an important time in American design history. Whether the stories be profound or anecdotal, it’s a glimmer of insight into an era that so many put in high regard. Hilda Longinotti, was a receptionist for George Nelson and Associates for 21 years. She shares a few of her memories with us through Herman Miller’s Why blog. Longinotti’s perspective as a member of the team gives us insight into some amusing stories including original Warhols created for a campaign that went missing. “The Hilda Stories,” is animated by Damien Florébert Cuypers and produced by Hello Design.

The revival of Alexander Girard’s past designs continues from Vitra this week. In partnership with the Girard Foundation Vitra will reissue more archived prints for the home and office. This includes pillows, wool blankets and the obscure Environmental Enrichment Panels. To enhance the drab office environment that was beginning to proliferate corporations in the 1970s, Girard designed a series of colorful graphic panels meant to be inserted into the dull partitions. It’s unclear how successful these were but the whimsical nature of these graphics seemed too far fetched for corporate offices to embrace. Nonetheless the panels became highly sought after in the years following and have only been available on secondary markets. Vitra’s re-edition will bring new life into these designs. The panels are silkscreened onto linen and are individually mounted on fiberboard spacer frames perfect for the office or home. Culling from the archive, a collection of pillows will also be reissued from Vitra.

Nearly a year after we mentioned the Collective Quarterly on The Scout, we’re finally going to see the fruits of their labor. On the heels of their Chicago launch, they’re bringing the celebration to Brooklyn. Modern Anthology in Dumbo, will be hosting an event this Thursday evening to commemorate the release. They will be giving away a copy of issue 0, a Faribault Woolen Mills travel blanket in collaborating with Collective Quarterly, a framed print from the issue, and much more. Meet the team behind the publication and see many of the photographs up close. The event will be from 6-9 in their Dumbo storefront at 68 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY. RSVP at rsvp@modernanthology.com.

The Hill-Side’s Spring Summer 2014 lookbook takes us to the flower district. This industrial corridor located on bustling 28th Street in Manhattan is home to a number of wholesale flower distributors. It’s not the ideal location for a photo shoot but the Corsillo brothers make it happen enlisting photographer Josh Wool and few of their friends including Nick Wooster, Justin Doss, Jess Shaffer, Logan Ahl and others. Shot inside Associated Cut Flower Co the crew was able to pull off a beautiful lookbook appropriate not only for the season but the for their season’s collection, a mixture of floral prints, bright colors, and classic patterns. New to the line are their made-in-Japan low top sneakers in six different fabrics, heavy duty tote bags, belts, watchbands, ball caps, and iron-on patches. The collection is available now through their retailers.

Heath Ceramics and House Industries team up again, this time with a series of ceramic clocks. Two designs have been created based on House’s familiar styles in numbers and ornate shapes. For the traditionalists, there is the Stencil design that uses a newly designed font inspired by a mishmash of sources from American G.I. stencils to 19th-century French stencils. For the more decorative style there is the Ornament version filled with repeated concentric patterns. The designs hearken back to Howard Miller’s popular line of ceramic clocks from the 1960s. You can purchase them now directly from Heath Ceramics.

Lella Vignelli isn’t as well known as her husband, Massimo, but her contribution to their eponymous studio is just as equal. She’s a multi-disciplined designer who has worked in every aspect of the studio’s output, from furniture and interiors to product and fashion. Though designed in the late 70s, her Casigliani marble tables are mimicked in today’s designs. In celebration of her life’s work, Massimo has created a book affectionately titled, Designed by Lella. They have made it available for free to download on their site. Learn more about her work and the contribution she has made to American Modern design.